Video:
on the front line | Video:
Harry's job | Full
text: interviewed in Afghanistan | Full
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Harry in Helmand | Media
blackout | 'Treated
like the rest' | The
farewell party | British
monarchs who have served
On New Year’s Eve the battlefield air controller known to pilots as “Widow Six
Seven” — but better known to the world as Prince Harry — called in his first
airstrike on a Taleban position: Operation Purple.
At the Prince’s direction, two US F15 jets, their pilots quite unaware that
they were acting on royal command, dropped two 500lb bombs on to a Taleban
bunker system. A third exploded as Taleban fighters emerged from the
position.
Working from a fortified position nearby, the 23-year-old Household Cavalry
officer and third in line to the throne is formally known as a forward air
controller (FAC) or joint tactical air controller (JTAC). In non-military
parlance, he plans, rehearses and launches air attacks.
Before his deployment to Afghanistan, the Prince said he craved anonymity. On
the front line, in the dust, noise and excitement, he has discovered, he
says, a sense of normality in circumstances most people would regard as
anything but normal. “All my wishes have come true,” he said.
Two days before Operation Purple, Taleban fighters had been seen digging
trenches and fortifications behind their lines. Using pictures from
reconnaissance aircraft and unmanned drones, Harry’s task was to monitor
movement on the ground, identify enemy forces, ensure that there were no
civilians or “friendlies” in the area, and bring in the bombs. On the night
before the attack he stayed at his post until after midnight, surveying the
area with the help of a night-flying Desert Hawk drone that beamed back
pictures on the computer screen nicknamed “Taleban TV” or, more grimly,
“Kill TV”.
Early next morning artillery forced the Taleban back to their bunkers, 150
metres behind the lines. Harry verified the co-ordinates one last time and
called in the jets. Once the pilots were ready to attack, they radioed “in
hot” to Widow Six Seven. Harry signalled back: “cleared hot”, and a few
moments later the bombs began to fall.
On another occasion, when Taleban group was spotted moving forward to attack
Camp Delhi, Harry manned the .50 calibre machinegun for the first time,
firing across no man’s land while a Gurkha filmed on Harry’s handheld
camera. “This is the first time I’ve fired a .50 cal,” he admitted with a
grin. “It’s just no man’s land. They poke their heads up and that’s it.
“The whole place is just deserted,” he said, looking out over the desolate,
pitted land. “There are craters all over the place — it just looks like
something out of the Battle of the Somme.”
For two months this has been Harry’s world. He has been secretly working on
the front line in Helmand, the first member of Royal Family to take part in
military action since Prince Andrew in Falklands. Living on the most basic
rations, deprived of clubs, drink, and his hard-living familiars, Prince
Harry has never been happier. “What am I missing? Nothing, really. It’s nice
just to be here with all the guys and just mucking in as one of the lads.”
Conditions are spartan, to say the least. At night in December in Forward Base
Dwyer the temperature dropped to minus 8C (17.6F). The sleeping areas, metal
cages filled with blast-proof rubble, have no heating. There is almost no
running water. Shaving is restricted to once every three days, and the
shower is a punctured bag in a wooden cubicle.
Toilet facilities on base consist of pipes in the sand, known as “desert
roses”, and the traditional plywood “thunderboxes”, positioned facing south
— “to bare your ass to the enemy”, in the standard military joke. “It’s
bizarre,” the Prince remarked. “I’m out here now, haven’t really had a
shower for four days, haven’t washed my clothes for a week, and everything
feels completely normal.”
Harry arrived in Afghanistan shortly before Christmas. Within days he had been
sent to Forward Base Delhi, to serve alongside Gurkha troops in the
southernmost British position in Helmand. From Delhi, the Taleban front line
is only 500 metres away.
The position comes under attack several times a day from rocketpropelled
grenades, mortar shells and machinegun fire. A nearby observation post is
erected on the remains of a 19th-century British fort — a reminder that
Britain has fought here before. A few hundreds yards away is the shell of
Garmsir, once the main trading and administrative centre for southern
Helmand but now a ghost town, abandoned more than a year ago when the
Taleban were driven out.
Asked whether he felt exposed to danger here, Harry laughed. “When you know
you are with the Gurkhas, I think there is no safer place to be, really.”
That is traditional soldier talk: as Harry’s comrades freely admit, this is
one of the most dangerous spots in the theatre of war.
As well as his air traffic control duties, Harry took part in foot patrols
through the town and surveyed the area from a frontline observation
position. He also had responsibility for preventing “friendly fire”,
protecting aircraft from ground attack, and generally co-ordinating
movements in the air.
Further to the rear, he was based at Forward Operating Base Dwyer, an outpost
in the middle of the desert six miles from the front. Here a cook works
miracles with ration packs, doling out pasta, curries and mashed potatoes
from a tent dubbed Hell Man’s Kitchen. The only real luxury is a large
television with a satellite link to British Forces Broadcasting Service.
For someone more often seen in Boujis nightclub, Harry is in his element. “I
honestly don’t know what I miss at all. Music, we’ve got music, we’ve got
light, we’ve got food, we’ve got [non-alcoholic] drink.” Conscious of his
image as a party animal, he added quickly: “No, I don’t miss the booze, if
that’s your next question.”
From Dwyer, the Royal Artillery fires 105mm guns to suppress Taleban attacks
at the front. Counterattacks have been few, but the collective adrenalin
surges whenever the guns sound. “This is what it’s all about — being here
with the guys rather than being in a room with a bunch of officers,
listening to their problems, listening to what they think.”
Harry has also picked up the slang. “Terry Taleban and his mates, as soon as
they hear air they go to ground, which makes life a little bit tricky,” he
said, describing his task of monitoring Taleban positions with the latest
equipment, including heat sensors to pinpoint underground positions. “Having
something that gives you a visual feedback from way up means they can carry
on with their normal pattern of life and we can follow them.”
He has been surprised by the amount of action he has seen. “I was expecting,
‘Fine, you can be here for a few days but then we’ll drag you back’.”
Instead, at the forward camps no special limits have been put on him by
Major Mark Milford, Officer Commanding, B Company, 1st Battalion The Royal
Gurkha Rifles.
Patrolling the empty streets of Garmsir, Harry is just another soldier. “Just
walking around, some of the ANP (Afghan National Police) haven’t got a clue
who I am,” he said. The Taleban, only 500 metres away, were also unaware of
his presence.
The town has changed hands repeatedly in the course of the fighting. Although
a few people have moved back, it is too close to the front for safety. Its
bullet-pocked buildings are stalked by a few feral cats, the shops lying
empty.
“It’s fantastic,” Harry said, as a boy trotted by on donkey, not recognising
one of the most famous faces in the world. “I’m still a little bit conscious
not to show my face too much in and around the area.
“I think up north when I do go up there, if I do go on patrols in amongst the
locals I will still be very wary about the fact that I need to keep my face
slightly covered. Just on the off chance that I do get recognised, which
will put the other guys in danger.”
Dirty, unshaven, and in the middle of a battlefield, the Prince, it seems, has
found a measure of internal peace.
Compiled with reports from John Bingham, PA chief reporter
Prince Harry Has earned my respect and I am sure most of the worlds for what he has done. That is the sign a true MAN and leader and I hope someday he will have leadership because I think he would make a good one. Thank you Harry for all you have done for our freedom. I work for the biggest defense company in the world and highly respect what all Military does for this Country.
Laurene, Cornellier, NJ
Mrs. Laurene Cornellier, Moorestown, USA / New Jersey
The media couldn't of placed a bigger bullseye on him. Idiots. Sad that he couldn't stay and continue out his tour of duty as that is clearly what he wanted. Anonymity at its greatest.. But I am grateful for him, and all the other men and women from America and other countries, that put themselves in harms way every day. For my right to sit here and type my opinion on my keyboard, in the comfort of my warm home, drinking hot coffee, and getting ready to go to work at a job of my choosing. Freedom paid for by the bloodshed of our sons and daughters. I will not ever take for granted. God bless Harry and his troops. I hope this young man makes the transition home well.
Shannon, Prescott, AZ
fyi the military uses the media to "leak" these offensives so that our enemies will think thats the truth. then we come in and get the bad guys while there not looking! ;)
nick holcomb, bellevue, nebraska
Yes, in order to justify this you try and impose our Western culture on these people. If this government could exist on popular support it would not need our army to prop it up.
This is your christian morality, the legacy of the puritans, in which you must cleanse the world of evil.
I agree that the Talleban are not all that savoury, however Osama Bin Laden is a Saudi, the hijackers were Saudi, why not improve homeland US security rather than invade another country ? What is the ulterior motive ?
What threat does a low tech militia pose to the west. Does this county not still harbour Bin Laden? What purpose this war ?
Does it not seem to be a throw-back to the days of the British Empire ? We cannot prop this goverment forever, this occupation is unsustainable. When we leave what will prevent the Taleban muscling their way to power again ? Should we spend the millions of pounds on something like Education ? Should we spare the lives of Soldiers?
Neil King, Edinburgh,
Comparing Prince Harry to the son of an American senator illustrates how ignorant we Americans are of the concept of royalty. Royalty are not elected. They are born. Serving in battle is an expectation of the Royal Family which does not translate to this country. Having said that many sons of American presidents have served in wartime. All of FDR's sons did so during World War II. There are many other instances of this sort of service from children of America's elite.
The British should be very proud of Prince Harry. It's a pity the sense of fair play has so thoroughly vanished from the world. Otherwise, Prince Harry should be allowed to finish out his assignment and return with his men.
Watts Taylor, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Nice to read a lecture on the legitimacy of the Afghan electoral process from an American, when the current President was first installed in office by his father's appointees on the supreme court after receiving fewer votes nationwide than his opponent Al Gore—half a million fewer.
Andrew Pandap, London,
Now let's see a Senator's or Congressman's son / daughter in Vietnam - er, make thtat Afagnasian - or Iraq fot that matter.
Robin Datta, Fresno , CA
See...that's why everyone thinks Americans are so ignorant...comments like this. Yes. A Senator's (and a Presidential candidate's) son has served in Iraq as a Marine - James McCain. Semper Fi. My congrats to Prince Harry for also serving so honorably. Now that you've taken care of Terry Taliban, see what you can do about Red Ken.
Brenda K.
Chicago, IL USA
Brenda K, Chicago, IL USA
To the extent of my knowledge, the military presence in Afghanistan - whether we dub it "occupation" or "peacekeeping" or whatever - has been sanctioned by the UN, hence calling it illegal misses the point.
Initially, it may have been maverick of the US and the UK to go in and depose of the Taleban government. However, there was justified reason for that. Several, actually. The destruction of works of culture (the Buddha statues), the opressive regime and the proliferation of poppy farming are a few. I doubt the US and the UK have gone in for the oil/gas - at least not at present, with little infrastructure with the ability to sustain extraction. Perhaps to gain a foothold and a strategic springboard into Russia and/or China sometime in the future, maybe yes.
Still, sanctioned by the US, which means the world at large agrees to do as they please in that place, within the boundaries of international law.
Wiktor, Gdansk, Poland
Oh come on Neil, are you serious? We are not occupying Afganistan, we are there supporting the legally elected government of the Afgahn people. It may not be a perfectly elected government, but it certainly has infinitely more legitimacy than the previous government who among other things harbored Osama bin Laden, destroyed the Bhudda statues, condoned stadium stoning of women who had been brutally raped...and the list goes on. We are in Afganistan because that country, through the actions of their previous illegitimate government, in effect attacked the United States by giving aid and comfort to radical Islamists bent on throwing the world into chaos.
Mark, Chicago, USA / IL
Did HRH get to experience the lack of adequate equipment suffered, apparently, by many of the British forces in Afghanistan?
Richard, Harleston, Suffolk
This is ridiculous. To what extent is being involved in the illegal occupation of another country in any way honourable. Are the Taleban likely to travel by donkey to blow up the houses of parliament.
Do people not have morals anymore ?
Do they regard this war as having some justification ?
Do they condone the wasting of millions of pounds of taxpayers money on this charade ? when it could be better spent elsewhere.
I ask you how many Islamic terrorist acts actually took place in the UK before the Invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. The answer is none.
Has this was war turned the UK into a terrorist target ? Yes.
I had always thought that the days of this sort of jolly propoganda were long gone.
Good luck to the 'Taleban' or whoever the media propogandists call the 'Taleban' in their mission to liberate there country from our Western Imperial occupation
Neil King, Edinburgh,
Well done Harry, your country is very proud of you, and all the others fighting our wars.
Good to see you being one of the lads and fighting for all those at home.
Gordon, Reading, UK
It's ironic (and really sad) that in somewhere as strange and surreal as a war zone, Harry finds a measure of normalcy.
Good for him for going, though. Whether you approve of the situation in Afghanistan or not, our soldiers are doing the job that our government requires them to do. They are brave, hard working and to be admired.
I've never forgotten Cherie Blair weeping because her son was going to university, whilst her husband was sending other mothers' children to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan (and in some cases to die because they did not have the right equipment). By comparison the Queen is a real trooper. Today is probably the first time in my life I have admired anyone in the royal family.
Belle, London,
The comments posted here make an interesting juxtaposition: Americans begin supportive and proud, Brits being cynical, dismissive and republican.
HRH is a serving officer doing his job well, by all accounts. He knew what he wanted and asked for no special treatment on account of his status. We should be proud of him and of all those away on operations at the moment. They badly need our support in dangerous and difficult situations. What you think of the politics or the justification for those operations should not come into the equation.
Serving RAF Officer, Salisbury, UK
Well done Harry - forget the raving of the UK liberal elite. Most ordinary people in this country understand and are with you.
Mark, Berkhamsted, UK
I wonder how many sons / daughters of Members of Parliament have been on active duty in Iraq or Afganistan?
Mike, Gravesend, England
We love you and be safe Harry.We'll pray for all the fine NATO troops fighting the Taliban. God save the Queen and God bless America
Tom, Cordova , USA/TN
I'm a U.S. Marine veteran and I'm appalled that the news about Prince Harry had to break on an American website. Here is the copy of an email I sent to the Drudge Report:
"I've been a big Drudge fan for years--I'm a retired Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer.
Having said that, as a U.S. Marine veteran I'm pretty unhappy about you breaking the news on Prince Harry.
No story is worth what could happen to him now that you've painted a bullseye on him."
Kent Mitchell, CPL, USMC 1956-60
Kent Mitchell, Atlanta, Georgia
Good on you Harry. I couldn't be more proud. The next time your in the states drop by Washington, DC and the pints are on me.
Good luck and stay safe.
Beltway Greg
Beltway Greg, Washington, DC, USA
and the band played believe it if you like...
henry adams, Manchester, UK
I am wondering why we really need to know this. Why does the media seem to think we need to know everything, especially when they have now endangered Prince Harry's life even more. He is know a really good target for the Taliban. I think the media need to rein themselves in. Now that the whole world knows I think if he gets killed we can blame the media. It's the same when the media go telling about offensives before they happen. I think telling about a secret attack before it happens is not exactly the right idea. I hope some one over head keeps Prince Harry safe.
Cheryl, Kennewick, Washington
Prince Harry it´s a true warrior prince of England.
He is part of a long lasting tradition of english warriors
and I am very happy knowing that the blood of Richard the Lionheart, and that of so many english warriors, is still alive in a prince of today.
The U.K. have enough reasons to be proud of her prince.
God save the warrior prince.
Guillermo Horruitiner, Lima, Perú - South America
I have great respect for Prince Harry. He did not let you whiny people keep him from serving. I am sure others feel this too. Too bad you are not a US MARINE, sir. Come over here. WE will take you on.
Semper FI,
Texas Fred
Fred Harwell, Houston, Texas
It would be interesting to compare the reverential and worshipful description of a royal detour to the medieval crusades by an accompanying "royal historian"[ read faithful lapdog] to this patronizing and Monica Lewinskian description of "The Prince" on a modern western crusade. Of course the boy on the donkey (and even the impertinent donkey!) didn't recognize the Divine creature - they apparently haven't got their hands on the pack of cards being circulated by the Taliban yet!
george, London,
"Dirty" Harry......I'm proud of you son....and I know your mother would be too....
keep smilin
olehippy13
former vietnam medic
American
Randall Underwood, Ashville, USA , Alabama
Now let's see a Senator's or Congressman's son / daughter in Vietnam - er, make thtat Afagnasian - or Iraq fot that matter.
Robin Datta, Fresno , CA